Monday, April 08, 2013

THE BEST OF US by Sarah Pekkanen

LATEST WINNER: Winner of the "Let's Hear It For The Boys" $10 Amazon Gift Card goes to Bridget T aka Iambtinrb... please email me at stephanieelliotATgmail.com with your full name and address!





Hey there! So I've had a lot going on recently, which I will be telling you more about in the coming week or so, but in between a little thing called What She Left Us, I've also been double-time reading two great books and one of them debuts this week and one has already debuted. I'll share the one that already debuted later this week or next week … it's When She Was Gone by Gwendolyn Gross and it's STUNNING!... as is the one I bring to you right now…


… which is by the FABULOUS Sarah Pekkanen who you all know I have loved since her first book The Opposite of Me. Her fourth book is out tomorrow, April 9 and it's called The Best of Us.


In The Best of Us, Sarah weaves the story of four couples as they embark on all-expenses paid vacation to Jamaica to celebrate one husband's birthday, only to be in the midst of a hurricane during their trip.


I love stories like this one in particular because I always jump into them thinking, "How am I going to keep all of these characters and their stories separate from one another," and Sarah just writes it so I can easily compartmentalize them in my brain!


Each character, from organized and put-together Allie, to stressed-out-mother-of-four Tina… to Savannah, who is trying to have it all while things are falling apart in her life, and Pauline, who doesn't know the others that well and is trying to host the event … are defined perfectly… Sarah vividly draws the picture of each woman and I felt compassion and understanding for each women's struggles, desires and personal issues.


Here is the full synopsis:


An all-expense-paid week at a luxury villa in Jamaica—it’s the invitation of a lifetime for a group of old college friends. All four women are desperate not just for a reunion, but for an escape: Tina is drowning under the demands of mothering four young children. Allie is shattered by the news that a genetic illness runs in her family. Savannah is carrying the secret of her husband’s infidelity. And, finally, there’s Pauline, who spares no expense to throw her wealthy husband an unforgettable thirty-fifth birthday celebration, hoping it will gloss over the cracks already splitting apart their new marriage. 

Languid hours on a private beach, gourmet dinners, and late nights of drinking kick off an idyllic week for the women and their husbands. But as a powerful hurricane bears down on the island, turmoil swirls inside the villa, forcing each of the women to reevaluate everything she knows about her friends—and herself.

If you could take an all-expenses paid vacation, where would you want to go? I definitely would want to go to Bora Bora or Tahiti (is that even the same place? I am horrible at geography!) and stay at one of those over-the-water rooms where the floor is glass and you can see the fish swimming. I love the beach so much so ocean destinations are my go-to dream destinations! How about you? Share your dream all-inclusive destination for a chance to win The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen! We are giving away TWO books this time! Thank you to Sarah and her publisher! 

If you wanna play with Manic, you gotta read this:
If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!


 

48 comments:

TinaB said...

I'd love to go to a beach...any beach!!! I'm not picky!! Ha :)
Brannanflooring@aol.com

Anonymous said...

My hubby and I have been dying to go back to our honeymoon destination for the last 11years, so I would say an all expense paid trip to Maui or Kauai would be my dream vacation!

Colbey J

jdstec said...

sorry for the lack of originality, but those huts over the water in Bora Bora are my dream vaca as well.

Ally said...

Maldives....we are hoping to go in a few years.

absolutahnie said...

Anguilla. my first trip there was shortly after hurricane luis in 1995...

ncsuloges said...

It would be super hard to choose between Bora Bora and Italy. Gorgeous sunny beaches or fantastic wine and a beautiful language.

Emma S. said...

Hmmm, I might go to Fiji or Australia if I had an all expense paid trip. I wish I had the funds to travel more!

Becki**** said...

London

Juliet Farmer said...

i would go to Australia.

your invisible pixie said...

Italy or Australia are two places I would love to go. I've been to Italy before and it was where I learned how to eat food that was more adventurous than just butter on pasta. I've never been to Australia but have wanted to go there since I was 8.

buttah said...

Well Hubs and I went to Isla Holbox, Mexico in October and it was fantabulous!! I would love to go again...but generally any warm, tropical beach will do just fine pleaseandthankyou! HA!

Lizett said...

I would travel all over Europe! It is one of the things on my bucket list =)!

Mary Jo Burke said...

I'm a city girl so I'd settle for London or Paris or NYC.

Unknown said...

All expenses paid...anywhere tropical that is NOT Mexico. LOL

Jeffie T said...

Definitely Bora Bora with the huts over the water!

Natalie M. in VA said...

Either back to Maui (honeymoon 2 years ago) OR Italy... could the all expenses pay for my passport too? Because I really need to look into getting that... haha

Erin Kathleen said...

Hawaii! Its so beautiful and the people are so nice...I was there a few years ago pre-kids...its just fabulous!!

Jessica said...

If I could go anywhere I would go to London!

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

I love the mountains. Not that I ski or hike or anything like that. I just think they are so beautiful and love to sit, read and look at them.

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

I want to do a quilting cruise!

Nearl80 said...

I would love to go on a world wide distillery tour.

Caroline N said...

I would want to go Australia or Spain.

slm8803 said...

Hawaii or Jamaica

Sslinsky said...

I don't care where, I just want it to be warm, no responsibilities and a good book (or 10).

Sarah

Carly said...

My grandma was born & raised in Australia and I've been there once when I was six. I would love to go back as an adult and explore.


Carly H

Anonymous said...

A secluded location with sun and books.

Unknown said...

I've always wanted to go to Hawaii! But honestly, anywhere warm. I live in Minnesota and its still freezing!

A.C. said...

I would have to say Paris. It's our favorite city and we're dying to go back!

Luvschocolate said...

I want to go to Ireland!

TaraUB said...

Europe. I'm not narrowing that down either. I'm going big.

Reese78 said...

Hawaii...I love the ocean, so relaxing! Or Alaska because I hear it's beautiful. Plus there's supposed to be lots of single guys there! ;)

GoGreen said...

My dream all inclusive vacation is Hawaii.

Email found clicking of Blogger icon.




Bonnie

Dawn in CA said...

beachbeachbeach...I know it's a popular choice, but that's because it's awesome! Specifically, Hawaii, Bahamas, Fiji, Costa Rica..sun, the ocean, a cold drink and stack of good books = dream come true.

Dawn in CA

Bev V said...

New Zealand and Australia.

Hailey Fish said...

The place I'd choose for an all expense paid trip would be Gold Coast in Australia. I would have the hotel be right on the water. I'd definitely swim with the dolphins.

Hailey Fish said...

The place I'd choose for an all expense paid trip would be Gold Coast in Australia. I would have the hotel be right on the water. I'd definitely swim with the dolphins.

fishiegirl22@yahoo.com

karenk said...

would love to travel all over Europe :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

CherylB said...

A safari in Africa is on the top of my list! Ahhhh, someday...........

cabest@yahoo.com

Tiffany Drew said...

I too would love to go on an African safari. I would love to see the animals up close (but not too close!).

Jessica Kavanagh said...

Tahiti! Jessica- jkavanagh.events@gmail.com

Jessica said...

Costa Rica

jessicadeleontx (at) gmail (dot) com

Nova said...

I would love to spend a week or so in New York City; see all the sights, do some shopping, stay in a nice hotel.
sparkle40175@hotmail.com

Margie said...

I'd like to go to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Margie T

Kelleyc said...

Ireland first, then on to the huts over the water in some tropical location!!

Shannon said...

my dream vacation would be australia, with a side of new zealand :)

Jennifer L. said...

My dream vacation would be to New Zealand.
jentam777 at gmail dot com

Kimmi said...

Italy. I just want good food 24/7.

equinn726 said...

I'd love to visit Sydney, Australia or the Galapagos Islands.